USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Ludlow > Ludlow: a century and a centennial, comprising a sketch of the history of the town of Ludlow, Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 6
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There are few especial references to the other church edifice. It seems to have been serving its day and gener- ation, gradually succumbing to wind and weather, and occasionally pressing a claim for repairs, with infrequent success. Used as meeting-house in a municipal as well as religious sense, it had every opportunity for a display of its excellencies or its defects. In 1805 there is record of a loud call for glass in the windows and for wooden steps up which the worthies might climb on their entrance to the sanctuary, nor was the cry disregarded. The people could not have been over-nice in their archi- tectural demands, for they abide in patience a brace of decades. Then the pent-up longings of years burst forth wildly as demands began to be made. The honest sashes again demanded glass, the wooden steps, probably never painted, had rotted away, while some who had found necessity for an umbrella in church, averred to the astonished managers that the roof needed patching; whereat there were orders at solemn conclave that meas- ures should be taken to stop the "leaks in the roof, if there be any." Individuals were to be allowed to paint the house and put step-stones in front. Deacon S. Jones passed a paper around for the purpose, and obtained $146.32, of which sum $25 was given by the " Spring- field Manufacturing Company." One year later, these improvements having been consummated, the town had the daring to allow a committee of three, (who must be immortalized-they were Benjamin Jenks, John Moody, Eliphal Booth,) to put in a stove, at the expense of indi-
54
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
viduals. The horse-sheds date back to 1814, notwith- standing the similarity of some to the present condition of the tower of Babel. Parties erecting them bid for choice of lot, under direction of the selectmen.
From the house of God to the resting-place of the dead is a frequented path. There are sufficient references to the places of burial to assure us that these busy scenes were often interrupted by the service funereal. It be- came necessary in 1805 to fence with post and rails and half-wall the yard by the church. A dozen years later the people meet to "spell" in repairing the fence. In 1823 the town appropriates thirty dollars for a hearse. Before this time the dead were borne on biers to the grave, a journey of miles on foot being often required. Men are living who have aided in conveying a corpse in this manner from the extreme west to the cemetery near the center. In 1825 the fences of both yards need re- pairs. Simeon Pease, the wit of the town, bid off the repairs of the center yard at the sum of five cents, evi- dently to postpone the work until the town would do it with thoroughness. In a few weeks he became one of a committee to build a thorough half-wall fence, with sawed posts and rails above. Great excitement was caused about this time by a proposition to move all the bodies interred in this yard, the proposition being scorn- fully rejected-how wisely is not evident. A hearse- house was erected in 1827.
It is singular that the war of 1812 should have passed with no occasion for record on the town books. Let no one, however, question the loyalty of Ludlow. Military organizations had existed in town for a long time, proba- bly for most of the period of organization. In 1808 a goodly number went to a general muster at Old Hadley, occurring September 28, but were unsuccessful in getting their expenses paid by the town. The famous Horse Com-
55
WAR OF 1812.
pany was formed in 1802 from recruits of four towns, Springfield, Longmeadow and Wilbraham joining Ludlow. The place of drill and muster was usually the Five Mile House, east of Springfield village. The captain was a Long- meadow man, Colton or Flint, perhaps both, at differ- ent times. The Ludlow names were as follows: Adin Parsons (lieutenant), Gaius Clough, Mordecai Clough, War- ren Hubbard, Erastus Munger, Daniel Miller, Sylvester Miller, Francis Nash, Julius Nash, Asahel Rood and Mar- tin Smith. The full number in the company was about forty. When the war of 1812 broke out, this company was in fine order. It is related of them that they were at a drill during the year at their usual mustering grounds one day, when the captain formed them into line and requested all who would volunteer as minute men for the national service to march forward so many paces. Not a man started in obedience to the sudden request, until the captain himself advanced to the assigned place. Then a large number of the company followed his exam- ple, among whom were all the Ludlow men but two, and of those one furnished a substitute. The names of those from the town actually participating in the service during the war were as follows :
HENRY ACRES, BENJAMIN AINSWORTH,
GIDEON COTTON, LEMUEL GARDINER,
SAMUEL GATES,14
JOHN HOWARD,
CHESTER KENDALL,
REUBEN PARSONS,
AMOS ROOT,
VERANUS SHATTUCK,
CHARLES F. WOOD,
GORDON B. WOOD,
HARVEY WOOD.
Facts are facts, and it must be recorded that two of these men deserted from the ranks and concealed them- selves at their home. One narrowly escaped capture by concealment for days inside a large stone chimney then
14Substitute for Selah Kendall, drafted.
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HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
standing in the south-west part of the town, and by a kindly warning from a female friend who knew officers were on his trail. The other was not as fortunate. Tak- en prisoner, he was court-martialed and sentenced to be shot. The coffin was produced and he bound and made to kneel upon it. The soldiers drawn up to execute the rigorous military law included his own brother-in-law. But just as the fatal shot was about to send him to eter- nity a reprieve was granted and a pardon eventually ob- tained, through the instrumentality of a Lieutenant Clary of Springfield.
Among the souvenirs of these days of war is a revenue receipt for payment by Benjamin Sikes of a tax of one dollar " for and upon a 4 wheel carriage called a waggon and the harness used therefor owned by him."
In school matters there seems to have been progress. The appropriation of $150 in 1801 was lessened only one year, while it increased fifty dollars occasionally until in 1828 it had become $400. Generally there were only prudential committees to manage the affairs, until 1827, when an examining committee was added. This seems to have been the period of the formation of school districts. To be sure, at its very beginning (1802) the south and south-east districts found it profitable to unite. It seems that there was an early district arrangement in that part of the town for all to attend at the house east of the present No. 9 district building. Afterward the Miller Corner people clamored for a change of location, and secured a district organization. The coalition of 1802 was another victory for Miller Corner. The Alden dis- trict was set off in 1808, the Center in 1809, Wallama- numps in 1814, and the Lyon in 1822. The south-east people made another effort in 1818 and secured again a distinctive district existence. The first reference to West Middle is dated 1822. Leave was given in 1805 to move
57
THE PEOPLE OF THE PERIOD.
the Middle school-house near to the pound, a location close by J. P. Hubbard's.
Of the people of these times we need say but little, because our annals must become more and more mere recitals of facts as we approach the present. A charac- teristic sketch or two of life at the time, however, may not be out of place. The muse of song was still courted. In 1804 the town magnanimously appropriated twenty-five dollars "to the present singers, on condition they sing well and still continue to sing to the Edification of the Inhabitants of sª Town," and two years after a committee was again empowered to hire a singing-master. Many a family lived in a log cabin, the older inhabitants remem- bering such establishments in various parts of the town.15 The voters seem to have indulged in all the privileges of American citizenship. At one time they solemnly and with full assurance "voted that James Bowdoin, Esq., be governor." In 1812 the County of Hampden was formed, a great convenience to Ludlow people, whose distance to the county seat was lessened one-half. Another conven- ience was the post-office at Put's Bridge, established not far from 1815. The mail route for a while was through the town from north to south, a cavalier with drawn pis- tol carrying the precious bag. As illustrations of wages paid and the value of work we cite allowances for highway labor in 1841 as sixty-seven cents per day in the Spring and fifty in the Fall. Ezekiel Fuller cut his logs, paid two dol- lars a thousand for sawing at the mill, drew the stuff to Willimansett, and sold it, nice yellow pine, for two dollars and a half per thousand. As late as 1820 good potatoes brought ten cents a bushel. A curious idea of the extent of the earlier crops of this esculent may be gained from
15One stood near the Norman Lyon house, one on "Stallion' Hill," near Miss Mary Lyon's, another opposite Loren Wood's, another in the extreme south-east part of Ludlow.
8
*
58
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
the fact that one man who had half a hogshead and an- other showing a crop of four barrels were the wonder of the town. There was a genuine small-pox scare in 1810, a committee being appointed to introduce the inoculation of the cow-pox. Among the minor incidents related is one of Elisha Fuller, who, journeying westward with his young son Harry, met a personage so peculiar that it occurred to his mind the stranger was the incarnation of his satanic majesty, yet who proved to be the eccentric Lorenzo Dow, who the night before had preached at "Master" Frost's. This same Samuel Frost was a very liberal man, who would give freely of his means to sup- port the traveling itinerants. Parties remonstrating at his prodigality, he retorted that he could raise "Methodist ears of corn" as long as his arm. McLean is said to have added a story to his height at one time, while preaching "over east," by standing upon a half-bushel measure.
Among the casualties of the time was the death of the veteran David Paine, who was found, July 2, 1807, dead, at the foot of Burying-Ground Hill, in sight of his home, having fallen beneath his cart on returning from mill, and perished from the crushing by the wheel.
But the most thrilling incident is that concerning the supposed Annibal murder. "In the year 1817, a man named John Annibal went from Belchertown to Connec- ticut to peddle wagons for Filer. On his return he was seen to enter Ludlow about sundown. Afterward his horse, with bridle cut, was seen in Granby, near Asa Pease's house. His portmanteau and saddle were found near Ezekiel Fuller's, and blood was discovered in the road between these two points. Great excitement pre- vailed, as every one thought he had been robbed and murdered. An old woman who pretended to tell for- tunes was consulted. She said he was murdered by a man with but one eye, living where three roads met, in
59
'THE ANNIBAL STORY.
a gambrel-roofed house. The house which answered the description was searched in the absence of the family- the door-steps were removed and a large excavation made underneath them, but not the slightest trace of the miss- ing man was found. The owner of the house was then searched as he was returning to his home, but no money discovered about him. Then a pond was drained near the house of George Clark. In draining the pond it was necessary in one point to dig twenty-five feet deep. While the work of digging was going forward, camp-fires were kept around the pond and sentinels with loaded muskets guarded the spot. When the ditch was com- pleted, on Sabbath day, the water was drawn off and a thousand people were supposed to be present; while a line of men reaching from one side of the pond to the other, holding each other's hands, waded through the soft mud. The pond covered nearly an acre of ground. No trace was found of the object desired. Search was then instituted in a smaller pond near by, the water being carried over the hill in pails. This effort also proved fruitless. Many then began to adopt another theory than that of murder. His brother, who had been here and joined in the search for two days, said his business was such he could not possibly remain, and returned to his home. It was afterward learned that he had debts which he did not wish to pay, also that his marital rela- tions were not the happiest. Some suggested that he might have spied a chance to kill two birds with one stone."16 A possible sequel to this account was the find- ing of a skull years later at one of the points where suspicion had rested.
Nearly as melancholy was the story of "Nick and Tarzy." They were very worthy people, were Nicholas Daniels of Ludlow and Thirza Olds of Belchertown. Un-
16 From Dea. Geo. R. Clark's description of the affair.
60
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
like the doctor who died in our town, they never " expe- rienced the sweets of connubial bliss." And yet they thought of these things, did Nick and Tarzy, and very likely blended their thoughts in joyous outlook. For well-nigh two-score years they fondly anticipated a day which should make an epoch. The day never came. At last Nick made his final visit to Tarzy. Whether hope deferred or love or a cold made his heart or his body sick " deponent saith not;" but he was cut down in the height of anticipative bliss, and buried from her home. Need we wonder that even the voluble McLean found his vocabulary straitened when he undertook at the service to address Thirza with words of consolation ? Into the conversation current of a generation has passed the expression, "Court- ing as long as Nick and Tarzy."
A few words on those matters intimately connected with the town's business may be expected. The bounds were changed in 1805 so as to include a large slice of Springfield, from the mouth of Higher Brook northward to the South Hadley line. In 1813 this had evidently been returned to its former association. There are fre- quent references to public lands, made a part of the town's property in the ancient allotment. This land was sold in 1802, for a sum of money which became a ministerial fund, a source of much trouble in later days, as we shall soon discover. 17The town seems to have been fortunate in rarely finding occasion to go before the law, either as complainant or defendant. The presence of a representa- tive at the General Court was generally secured. Occa- sionally property seems to have come into the hands of the town for safe management.
There was some attention paid to roads during the pe- riod. Nearly every highway east of the mountain was either laid out or re-laid before 1811; a different course
17 See section IV.
61
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
was marked out and worked from J. P. Hubbard's to the Center post-office, in 1803, involving the first construc- tion of the terrible Cedar Swamp causeway, so long an eye-sore to exasperated towns-people and bewildered se- lectmen. In 1817 was established the highway from Joy's store to Plumley's, to accommodate, it is said, travel from the Jenksville to the Three Rivers factories. A year later somebody called down the wrath of the county commis- sioners on the principal north and south roads through the town, resulting in general repairs and re-location of the Put's Bridge and Belchertown and Collins' and Granby routes. In 1826 we find one of the earlier movements toward a money system of repairing the highways.
This was the era of bridge-building at Wallamanumps. Before the opening of the century only the most inex- pensive modes of crossing the Chicopee were employed. There were " riding places " or fords at Wallamanumps and where now Collins' bridge spans the stream. As early as '81 a committee from Ludlow was to meet another from Springfield to see about the construction of a bridge at Wallamanumps. In seven years fifty pounds were granted for a like purpose in April, and in November a committee on subscriptions was appointed, possibly to secure a better bridge than the town felt able to construct unassisted. In '92 the bridge, which must have made pretensions to respectability, had very likely become a river craft, for the town petitions the county authorities for another.
Plans more or less elaborate were consummated in '94 for a structure, which was inspected by a solemn com- mittee in the later Autumn. The conditions of building are worthy of preservation. "Voted that any Person or Persons that will undertake and build with good materials a good substantial Bridge over Chicopee River, so called, at Wallamanumps Falls, and shall keep the same in good re- pair, shall receive sixty pounds from the town of Ludlow
62
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
-Provided that the Person or Persons being so entitled to the said sum of sixty pounds for building the said Bridge shall procure sufficient bonds to the Town Treas" in the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds for the return of the same money into the Treas" of said Town if the same bridge so built shall not stand the rapidity of the Floods and the Breaking up of the winter, for four years-And also that the same Person or Persons that shall build the same shall be entitled to all the fare or toll allowed by Law from all Persons not being Inhabitants of the Town of Ludlow forever." Eli Putnam, moderator of the meet- ing at which this action was taken, evidently considered the vote as a challenge, and proceeded to the erection of the first Putnam's or Put's bridge, also, probably, the first toll bridge at that point. Whether it was worthy of the capitals in the town record can not be determined at this date. It seems, however, to have answered the require- ment, for all is quiet until 1801, when the town again finds itself bridgeless. After an unsuccessful attempt to saddle the burden upon the county and an attempt equally unsuccessful to build from town funds, a committee for soliciting subscriptions was appointed, who, it may be pre- sumed, built a bridge, for nothing was said for eleven years. This brings us to the time of the construction of the famous Cooley bridge, which started from a point near the north abutment of the present structure, then ran to a pier in the mid-stream, then at a different angle to an abutment considerably west of the present south abut- ment. It was a covered bridge, and one through which no one could see. Its hight must have been good, for some camels once passed through.18 Capt. Ariel Cooley
18The boys of the village were apprised of the coming wonder. The beasts passed through in the night, but Yankee ingenuity could not be baffled by darkness, and so a section was illuminated. It became convenient to arrest the camels at the toll house, on the south end, inasmuch as astute legislators had failed to place these
.
63
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
received five hundred dollars for his work, he guarantee- ing a free and safe passage across the stream so long as the life of the charter continued.
This bridge having been worn out or carried away, measures were taken to build another, resulting in 1822 in the completion of the present structure. Its cost was $3,347.30. The wisdom of the outlay is manifest in the fact that the bridge is still staunch and strong. The builder remarked that he never before had everything provided to suit him. The committee of construction, Abner Putnam, Benjamin Jenks and Simeon Pease, de- serve a recognition.
Before passing to other days, a little sketch of the manufacturing interests will be expected. Very early in the century Rufus Calkins had a little chair shop a mile up Higher Brook from the Center post-office. Here were made many of the old chairs now to be seen in the more ancient homes. At one time he also adjusted a spindle by means of which he could spin flax or wool. His was the first manufacturing of the kind in town. Further down, below Warren Fuller's privilege, was in 1814, a little fulling-mill, operated by Gustavus Pinney. Near its banks at two different places successively, Elisha Fuller carried on a potash establishment, the last location being upon a spot opposite the present Methodist church, on the lot now owned by the society. Harris' mill privi- lege was under improvement in 1805, under the name of the " Continental Mill," owned by proprietors.
On Broad Brook were two new privileges, now unused: Thornton's saw-mill was just at the foot of Burying- Ground Hill, and Alden's sash and blind shop a few rods above. At Ludlow City, it must be recorded, was at one
animals on the toll list. The delay accomplished at least its intended result, in giv- ing the boys a good glimpse at the rare beasts of burden. So says Hezekiah Root, then one of the " boys."
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HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
time a distillery. Tar-kilns were set up here and there, traces being still discernible on Facing Hills and else- where.
Near the old Sikes place, south of the brook, a mile north of the Center churches, is still shown the ruins of the once famous Ludlow Glass Works, the wonder of the region. Here stood a small building, partly masonry and partly wood, in which were ponderous furnaces and sweating laborers. The article made was green glass, and its form mostly bottles. It existed a few years, was mis- managed, its proprietors became reckless, and eventually lost all, and left to posterity only a ruin of business and a wreck of finances.
The falls of Wallamanumps had early attracted atten- tion. Late in the last century there was but one man living in all the region. In 1788, however, reference is made to " Dea. Timothy Keyes' mill-dam," at this point. Not far from the dawn of the present century Abner Putnam came from the East and improved the privilege by erecting a shop for the manufacture of scythes. This he developed into a considerable business. The tools which had passed under Putnam's trip-hammer were con- sidered among the best made.
Mr. Tuck has given19 the account of the transfer of the property of Capt. Abram Putnam to Benjamin Jencks, in 1812. Mr. Jencks often related the account of his failure to select Rochester as his place of business, but said that locality was too far into the land of the Mo- hawks. The company was formed in 1814, and consisted of Benjamin Jenckes, Washington Jenckes, Joseph Buck- lin and George Wilkinson of Ludlow, and Stephen H. Smith of Providence, R. I. Smith in a little while sold his shares to Samuel Slater, since so famous as a manu- facturer. The original capital is not stated, but provis-
19 See Historical Address.
65
THE SPRINGFIELD MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
ion was made for an increase to $32,000. The property has been since sold for five times that sum. The grantors of deeds were Sylvester Moody, Abner Putnam and Levi Pease. At one time the company held twelve hundred acres of land.
-
Operations were first commenced in a wooden building on the site of the stone factories, and consisted in prepa- ration of warps and yarn, which was woven by parties in all the country about. The stone buildings were com- menced in 1821. The first building was a little way from the bridge, 103 feet long and 36 wide. This was com- pleted the following year. An additional mill westward, forty feet from the first, was erected in 1826, 40x115 di- mensions. The machinery was manufactured in the build- ings, lower stories being used for the purpose. The first looms were set in motion in 1823. The fabric was sheet- ing, three-fourths, seven-eighths and yard wide. The mills were constructed well, and became the ideal buildings of the region. Stukely Smith was the mason, and Zebi- nus Pierce the carpenter.
This "Springfield Manufacturing Company " of course made a vast difference with the interests of the town. We shall find their business the leading factor in the successes and reverses of the next period.
9
SECTION IV.
1828 то 1848.
THE ZENITH OF THE CENTURY.
Changes incident to manufacturing-Source of Ludlow's greater pros- perity-New life-A market-Another mill-Jenksville in 1837 -Upper privilege-Inventions-The people at the factories- Their morals-Sabbath desecration-The only remedy-Itine- rants and labors-The revival-Its effects-Place of worship- The M. E. Church-Trouble-Aid-A great revival-Incidents- Other revivals-Millerism-The Congregationalists-Mr. Wright -A colleague-Rev. Mr. Austin-Dismission of Mr. Wright- The first parish-The fund-A lawsuit-Mr. Wright called again-Rev. Mr. Sanderson-The church of 1841-Disposition of the old edifice-Rev. Mr. Tuck-The new cemetery-Highways and bridges-Red bridge-Necrology-" Dr. Foggus"-"Fri- day "-Incidents-Mexican war-A weather note-Mills-In- dian Orchard-Jenksville church edifices-Congregational Church there-The Company-Confidence of the people-The crash- Immediate effects.
THE change in a town from the simplicity of rural pur- suits to the noise and bustle of manufacturing is ever a marked one. The stream meandering along the limits of Ludlow, unobstructed by dam and crossed only by the rudest bridge, only furnished a convenient channel for bearing away the waters flowing from marsh and spring ; the same stream, no less rapid or picturesque, checked for an instant in its rapid coursings in order to do obeisance to human direction, to follow the bent of human inclina- tion, not only bears away the gathered deposits of highly fertile soil, but with showers of wealth returns more than it has taken, a thousand fold.
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